CALDY returned to the top of National Three North with a 28-14 win over Harrogate at Paton Field.

There was a sense of justice being done after the previous game between the clubs back in November was abandoned in the second half due to fog with Caldy leading 14-5.

The Wirral club hadn’t played for a month but got off to a flying start as they grabbed a try inside five minutes.

After Harrogate full-back Ed Smithies knocked on in his own 22, the ball was quickly moved wide. Gavin Roberts was held up but Mark Turner was in support and took the pass to touch down.

The conversion struck the post but Roberts’ penalty soon made it 8-0.

No 8 Matt Lamming then showed great strength to break from a scrum just inside his own half.

When he was brought to ground, prop Gavin Woods rumbled on and the ball was then moved to stand-off Ben Macpherson, who cruised past two would-be tacklers for a tremendous try under the posts and Roberts converted.

Another penalty made it 18-0 but Harrogate reduced the arrears when scrum half Mike Aspinall chipped through for Smithies to score under the posts and Cerith Rees converted.

Caldy regrouped and Roberts re-established their 18-point lead when he forced his way over for a converted try and it was 25-7 at the break.

The second half was a much grittier affair with Harrogate pushing Caldy back with some booming kicks.

Caldy’s defence was breached once when flanker James Taggert went under the posts and Rees added the extras.

But another Roberts penalty ensured the visitors were kept at arm’s length as he took his personal tally to 18 points.

Rock-bottom Waterloo faded badly as they lost 42-27 at home to Wharfedale in National Two.

Tries from Adam Anderson, James Hall, Carl Nolan and Freeman Payne – coupled with seven points from the boot of James O’Brien – looked to have put Loo on course for only their second win of the season.

After 52 minutes they led 27-11 but they then proceeded to leak five tries and didn’t add another point themselves.